Valve



Jan. 19, 1943. c. H. HART 2,308,753

VALVE Filed Nov. '1, 1941 INVENTOR M+ MATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" VALVE v Charles H. Hart, Detroit, Mich.

Application Novcmber 1, 1941, Serial No. 417,454

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in valves and more particularly to a valve operable when a greater than desired pressure is supplied to maintain a substantially con-,

stant pressure by relieving excess pressure'and which is particularly adapted for controlling and regulating hydraulic pressures in conduits or other supply lines, such as are employed in the operation for example of hydraulic drills.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel pressure relief valve which will operate efficlently and which is of simple construction.

Another object is to provide a valve having a minimum differential between the pressures at which it will open and close so that with a supply pressure greater than the desired maximum, the pressure maintained at the valve outlet will be substantially constant.

Another object is to provide a regulating or relief valve in which leakage of controlling pressure is substantially eliminated.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the detailed description hereinafter set forth.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing to be taken as a part of this specification there is fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which drawing,

Figure l is a top plan view of a valve embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation looking from the right of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the numeral l designates a casing or housing of'steel,- for example, having a hollow body or base member 2 preferably substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section and having an internal cylindrical cavity or chamber 9 extending longitudinally from or normal to the cover or cap member 4. A plurality of countersunk machine screws 4, preferably socket head type and four in number, serve to tightly clamp and seal the cover and body members together. Extending through the bottom wall 5, there is a by-pass outlet port 9 internally screw-threaded for connection of or to a pipe for leading off excess fluid, as to a reservoir or the supply tank. The port 9 is concentric with chamber 8 and gather.

has at its inner end and opening in the chamber a cylindrical recess I of enlarged diameter. Fltting within the recess I, there is the lower enlarged cylindrical end 9 of a cylindrical guide member or post 9 which has an annular peripheral end recess M to receive a ring of packing material H which seats. against the recess wall to seal the lower end of the guide member to the wall 5. The guide member 9 has a longitudinal bore or passageway l2 therethrough which opens at its lower end through an enlarged diameter bore portion into the port 6 with which the bore is aligned. The upper end portion of the guide member fits within a cylindrical recess l3 in the underface of the cover member 4 and has an annular peripheral end recess II for receiving a ring of packing material l5 which seats against the recess wall to seal the upper end of the guide member 9 to the cover member 4. It may be noted that the sealing rings II and I4 permit of a slight manufacturing tolerance in the length of guidemember 9 so as to assure the tight fitting of the cover and body members to- The recesses I and I3 are concentric with the chamber 3 so that the guide member 9 is accurately positioned therein and forms with the chamber wall a true annular chamber. Closely adJacent the bottom wall 5 and the guide member end 8, the guide member 9 has a plurality of lateral and radial ports l6, preferably four in number, for establishing communication between the chamber 3 and the by-pass port 6. The ports l6 preferably open into an external circumferential groove II, the lower shoulder or wall of which and the upper annular end face of the end 8 being flared downward and outward in conical form to provide a circular valve seat l8 having its seating or receiving portion conforming to the extended circumference of the member 9, that is, being of equal diameter to the diameter of the member 9.

Within the chamber 3 and dividing the cavity into a. lower compartment or flow chamber l9 and an upper compartment or pressure chamber 20, there is a reciprocable, pressure responsive valve member 2|, preferably in the form of a hollow cylinder which has a free-sliding, preferably lapped fit, on the guide member 9. Intermediate its ends, the valve member 2| has a lateral surrounding or annular flange 22 which slidably fits the internal cylindrical wall of chamber 3, the fit preferably being a lapped joint. At its lower end, the valve member 2| has a sharpcornered inner periphery to provide substantially a line engagement with the seat It so that no lose its prime, or for the use of a pressure gauge. If desired, the plug .2! may be removed for conlyflttedinarecessfl. 'lxtendingcoaxiallyfrom portion ll, there is a guide bore inwhich is reciprocally supported a pressure responsive pistontypereliefvalvellhavingaconicalortapered end portion engageable with the seat member II to close tightly the passageway 21. The guide portion of valve 34 may be of polygonal stockormayhaveableedportfl-sothatliquid will not be trapped behind the valve stem and thereby interfere with the opening or proper operation of the valve 84. On the outlet side of the valve 34, there is a vertical passageway portion ll alined with the guide member bore l2 and opening thereinto. The chamber is and inlet port 23 are, by means of a restricted conduit 30, in communication with the passageway 21 which has its portion ll opening into the chamberllsothatthechambers ls andllarenormally maintained at substantially the same or equal pressure, but flow to passageway portion 2| lags, or fails to satisfy the evacuation caused by the opening of valve 34, thereby creating a differential of pressures in chambers I! and 2. and causing a consequent unbalance of pressures on and which will open the valve member II. The flow area of conduit It should be determined in accordance with the viscosity of the liquid employed, the more viscous liquids requiring a greater flow area. For example, the diameter of conduit 38 may be for oil having a viscosity of 315 8. B. U. at 100 1'. when operation is to occur between say 65 1". and 155' I".

In the outer end of bore 33 which extends through a cover member-extension 81, there is anadiustmentsprlngllofelongatedhelicalcoil 'type to provide flexibility for accurate and fine adjustment. The spring 38 seats at one end in thehollowreceuedendportionofthevalve I4 andseatsatitsotherendagainstthebaseofa long hollow adjustment screw ll which projects fromtheextensimi'landislockedinplace with suitable gaskets by a nut ll. A tubular cap or cover ll houses the outer end of the screw llandisinternallythreadedsothatit maybe Hi loosened.whereupontheariiustmentscrewllis turnedinorouttoincrease or decrease tively. the maximum pressure in the on or conduit 24 whenthe pump is of proper itytodelivertheliquidinexcess ofthem pressure and then to maintain the outlet at port 24 substantially constant. With nut ll and thecap member ll replaced isanyairinthesystemtheplugll opened to release the air as above noted be tightly seated. The liquid, under due to the resistance to how beyond the outlet 24, asbythe drillpistomwillnllthechamber is and also flow through the conduit to fill the chamber 20 and the conduit 2'! on the inlet side of valve II. I The top and bottom or end surface areas of the piston-like valve member ii are equal and therefore since the conduit ll maintainsthepressureinchamberflequaltothstinchamber is as the pressure builds up in the supply line, including chamber II, the valve member 2! will remain on its seat It, the spring II serving primarily to overcome friction and inertia on valve closing movement and to assure that the valve is normally seated. As soon as the pressure at the inlet port 23 and in the chamber l l exceeds by any amount the desired maximum pressure as determined by the setting of the valve 34,

then the liquid pressure on the valve 34 will open it and cause an unbalance of the liquid pressure forces acting on the valve member 2| so that upon a pressure drop in chamber II, which pressure drop is equal to the slight constant force required to move the valve member II upward, the valve member ll will move to open position permitting the liquid in chamber II to by-pass through ports It and thence through passage-- way If and from the by-pass outlet port I. The

flow through passageway portion SI and thence via passageway II to and from the by-pass out-1 let port 6. The valve 34 functions with the valve member 2| so that the valve member II will throttle just enough liquid to the by-pass voutlet port I to maintain the valve 84 in open position. As soon as the pressure in chamber ll drops below the maximum pressure, the valve 84 will close and substantially instantaneously. the valve member II will be moved to its seat by its weight and by the spring II- It will be noted that the valve member 2| does not present any added pressure surface to the liquid in chamber II when the valve member 2| moves from its seat.

due to the line contact of the valve member with its seat and that the diameter of the seat contact line is equal to the inner, circumference of the top and bottom ends of the annular valve tlet port capacaximum pressure the lock if there should be and then pressure the supply line to the port 23 will be "dumped" through the by-pass port i and there will be substantially no back pressure in the pump discharge line.

It will be apparent from the foregoing descriptlon that there is provided a valve of simple construction and eiilcient operation which will hold the discharge pressure at the desired maximum pressure provided the liquid pressure supply means is suflicient to exceed that maximum or which will limit the pressure to a desired maximum in the event a pressure surge of either long or short duration should tend to exceed the maximum.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent oi the United States is:

1. In a valve of the character described, a

casing having an internal guide member, a valve member reciprocally fitting on said member and dividing said casing internally into a flow chamber and a pressure chamber, saidcasing having an inlet port and an outlet port for said flow chamber and having a by-pass port, said guide member extending through said flow chamber and having a passageway tor flow from said flew chamber to said by-pass port, said valve member controlling the inlet of fluid to said guide member passageway, means operable to equalize normally the fluid pressures in said chambers,

means operable to maintain said valve member normally in a position closing the inlet to said passageway, and a pressure responsive valve member operable to relieve the fluid pressure in said pressure chamber and determining the fluid pressure in said flow chamber at which said firstnamed valve member will be moved to open said passageway inlet.

2. In a valve of the character described, a casing having an internal guide member, a valve member reciprocally fitting on said member and dividing said casing internally into a flow chamber and a pressure chamber, said casing having an inlet port and an outlet port for said flow chamber and having a, by-pass port, said guide member extending through said flow chamber and having a passageway for direct flow from said flow chamber to said by-pass port, means operable to equalize normally the fluid pressures in said chambers, said guide member having a valve seat cooperable with the inner periphery of said valve member to control the inlet of fluid to said guide member passageway, means operable to maintain said valve member normally in endwise engagement with said seat to close the inlet to said passageway, and a pressure responsive valve member operable to relieve the fluid pressure in said pressure chamber and determining the fluid pressure in said flow chamber at which said first-named valve member will be moved to open said passageway inlet.

3. In a valve of the character described, a casing having an internal guide member, a valve member reciprocally fitting on said member and dividing said casing internally into a flow chamber and a pressure chamber, said casing having an inlet port and an outlet port for said flow chamber and having a by-pass port, said guide member having a passageway for fiow from said flow chamber to said by-pass port, means operable to equalize normally the fluid pressures in said chambers, said guide member having a valve seat cooperable with the inner periphery of said valve member to control the inlet fluid to said guide member passageway, means operable to maintain said valve member normally in end- 76 wise engagement with said seat to close the inlet to said passageway, and a pressure responsive valve member operable to relieve the fluid pressure in said pressure chamber and determining the fluid pressure in said flow chamber at which said first-named valve member will be moved to open said passageway inlet, said first-named valve member having substantially equal pressure responsive surface areas exposed respectively to said flow chamber and said pressure chamber and having substantially line contact with said seat thereby to maintain the pressure responsive surface areas of said first-named valve member substantially constant irrespective of the position of said first-named valve member.

4. In a valve of the character described, a casing having an internal centrally positioned guide member, a valve member having an aperture therethrough and reciprocally fitting around said member and dividing said casing internally into a flow chamber and a pressure chamber, said valve member having a surrounding flange reciprocally fitting the inner wall of said casing, said casing having an inlet port and an outlet port for said flow chamber and having a by'-pass port, said guide member having a passageway for flow from said flow chamber to said by-pass port, said valve member controlling the inlet of fluid to said passageway, a conduit establishing restricted communication between said chambers and normally maintaining substantially equal member operable to relieve the fluid pressure in said pressure chamber and determining the fluid pressure in said flow chamber at which said firstnamed valve member will be moved to open said passageway inlet.

5. In a valve of the character described, a casing having an internal guide member extending between the end walls of said casing, a valve member reciprocally fitting on said member and dividing said casing internally into a flow chamber and a pressure chamber, said casing having intermediate the ends of said guide member an inlet port and an outlet port for said flow chamber, said casing having a, by-pass port, said guide member having a longitudinal internal passageway communicating with said by-pass port for flow from said flow chamber to said by-pass port, said valve member controlling the inlet of fluid to said passageway, means operable to equalize normally the fluid pressures in said chambers, means operable to maintain said valve member normally in a position closing the inlet to said passageway, a by-pass passageway leading from said pressure chamber to said guide member passageway, a pressure responsive valve member in said by-pass passageway and operable to relieve the fluid pressure in said pressure chamber by permitting flow of the fluid to said guide member passageway, and means acting on said pressure responsive valve member and determining the fluid pressure in said flow chamber at which said first-named valve member will be moved to open said passageway inlet.

6. In a pressure regulating valve, a casing having a body member and a cover member, said body member having a cylindrical cavity closed at one end by said cover member, a guide member concentrically positioned in said cavity and sealed to said cover member and to the bottom passageway, a coil spring in said pressure chamber and surrounding one end of said valve memaby-pass port leading from, said guide member ber and being held under compression between said cover member andssaid ilange to urge said valve member to said seat, said cover member having a passageway therethrough opening at one end into said pressure chamber and at its other end into said guide member passageway,

said body member having a conduit for restricted fiow from said inletport to said cover member passageway, a pressure responsive valve member in said cover member passageway and controlling flow from said pressure chamber and said conduit to said guide member passageway, and means determining the iluid pressure in said pressure chamber at which said annular valve member will be moved away from said seat.

'1. In a pressure regulating valve, a casing having a body member and a cover member, said body member having a cylindrical cavity closed at one end by said cover member, said body member and said cover. member having aligned recesses concentric with said cavity, a cylindrical guide member having its ends seated and sealed in said recesses, an annular valve member reciprocally fitting on said guide member and having a surrounding flange reciprocally fitting the cylindrical wall of said cavity, said guide member having an enlarged diameter portionadJacent the bottom wall of said body member and having a circumferential recess adjacent said enlarged portion, said guide member having a conical surface extending into said circumferential recess and outward to the outer periphery of said enlarged portion of said guide member to provide a valve seat for said valve member, said valve member dividing said cavity into a fiow chamber and a pressure chamber, said guide member having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and having a lateral port opening from saidcircumlerential'recess into said longitudinal passageway, said body member having an inlet port and an outlet port for said flow chamber and having a by-pass port leading from the base of said body member recess, a coil spring in said pressure chamber and surrounding one end 01' said valve member and being heldunder compression between said cover memsure in said pressure chamber, at which said annular valve member will be moved to open said lateral port, and an adjustable abutment memberin said bore and holding said spring under compression. 1

8.Inavalveoithecharacterdescribed.acasinghavinganinternalguidemembenavalvef chamber and having ,a by-pass port, said guide member extending through said fiow chamber and having a passageway ior fiow from said fiow chamber to said'by-pass port, said valve member controlling the inlet of .fiuid to said guide member passageway, means to equalize normally the fiuid pressures in said chambers, said casing having .a by-pass passageway leading from said pressure chamber to said guide member passageway, and a pressure responsive valve member in said by-pass passageway and movable to open position by pressure in said pressure chamber thereby to control the operation of said firstnamed valve member,

.9. In a valve of the character described, a casing having an internal guide member, a valve member reciprocally fitting on said member and dividing said casing internally into a fiow chamber and a pressure chamber, said casing having intermediate the ends of said guide member an inlet port and an outletport for said flow chamber and having a by-pass port, said guide member extending through said fiow chamber and having a passageway tor fiow from said fiow 

